My Big Bird Year Fly Free, Subaraj The International and Domestic Parrot Trade
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Official Magazine of Nature Society (Singapore) Volume 28 No 1 Jan-Mar 2020 S$5.00
My Big Bird Year
Fly Free, Subaraj
The International
and Domestic
Parrot Trade
MCI (P) 064/04/2019
Message from the Editors
NATURE SOCIETY
T
(SINGAPORE)
his issue has serendipitously turned into a year-end celebration of the
many generations that make up the nature loving community and
Nature Society (Singapore) (NSS) members in our tiny island country,
2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
and the continuity of commitment.
Our cover photo shows a young team competing in NSS’ 35th Singapore
Patron Bird Race. This event attracted the largest number of teams and participants
Professor Tommy Koh
President
ever, thanks not only to the many keen young primary and secondary
Dr Shawn Lum school participants, but also the slightly older groups of photographers and
Vice-President
Dr Ho Hua Chew
birdwatchers who took part. And the few even older ones. And the youngsters
Immediate Past President needed a solid core of “middling-age” types, teachers and NSS volunteers, to
Dr Geh Min
keep them safe as they roamed around the southern ridges.
Honorary Secretary
Mr Morten Strange At the core of the Bird Race organisation was Lim Kim Chuah, now
Honorary Treasurer Chair of the NSS Bird Group, and one of those who had competed in the first
Mr Bhagyesh Chaubey
Bird Race in 1984 – a two team event. He was one of the young generation of
Honorary Assistant Secretary
Ms Evelyn Ng Singaporeans who gave the Society, then the Singapore Branch of the Malayan
Honorary Assistant Treasurer Nature Society, a power surge in the 1980s. A photo of him at that time,
-
along with four others of that influential generation, appears in this issue. Very
Executive Committee Members
Mr Goh Si Guim, Mr Albert Liu tragically one of them, Subaraj Rajathurai, is no longer with us. Morten Strange
Finance Advisory Group Members
Mr Peter Connell, Ms Trixie Tan,
pays tribute to Subaraj’s life which was dedicated to nature and its conservation
Mr Yip Yew Chong in Singapore – a life cut short too soon, but with a solid legacy passed on to his
Co-opted Council Members
Assoc Prof P.N. Avadhani, Ms Margie Hall,
sons and to the wider community of Singapore.
Mr Ben Szeto, Dr Liew Kai Khiun, Dr Ngo Kang Min Nature races rely on skills of identification and knowledge of species’
Advisory Council Members
Mr Warren Khoo, Prof Koh Kheng Lian,
behaviour and preferred habitats – Big Years likewise, with the addition of
Mr Lim Jim Koon, Mr Liu Thai Ker,
Prof Ng Soon Chye, Mr Sim Wong Hoo,
reliance on community. Geoff Lim’s account of his Big Year is much longer
Mr Mason Tan than the articles we usually publish, but it contains such an appreciation of
BirdLife International Coordinator
Mr Lim Kim Keang
the birdwatching and bird photography community, as well as the problems of
IUCN Coordinator fitting hobbies with family life, that we did not wish to cut it too short.
Ms Ng Bee Choo On the conservation front, recent graduate Sung Mei Yee reports on
Green Corridor Coordinator
Dr Liew Kai Khiun her first attendance at an international conference, whilst some of our other
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS youngish science-trained members Anuj Jain and Yong Ding Li, together
Conservation Committee
Mr Leong Kwok Peng with recent graduate Aloysius Scott and with Jessica Lee of Wildlife Reserves
Education Committee Singapore, initiate a preliminary consideration of the connectedness of the
Mr Goh Ter Yang
international and local parrot trades. More work needs to be done to find the
Membership & Fundraising Committee
Mr Albert Liu connections, and we look forward to future updates and articles.
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP CHAIRPERSONS Readers may notice that various of the contributions mentioned above
Bird Group
Mr Lim Kim Chuah appear in a new section, NSS Kaleidoscope. This section specifically features
Butterfly & Insect Group Society news and updates. It is intended to incorporate items that would have
-
appeared in the previous format of the Society’s newsletter Nature News. In this
Jalan Hijau Group
Mr Tan Hang Chong way Nature Watch will now cover a wider range of materials.
Marine Conservation Group As ever, we thank all our contributors, welcome articles from both new
Mr Stephen Beng
and regular contributors, and wish all our readers, young, old and anywhere in
Plant Group
Mr Bian Tan between, the very best for New Year 2020.
Nature Ramblers Group
Mr Pandian Parthasarathy
Margie Hall & Gemma Koh
Vertebrate Study Group
Mr Tony O’Dempsey December 2019
NSS Secretariat
Mr Joseph Lim We welcome your stories, articles, surveys, observations and photographs. Please
(Accounts & Membership Officer)
Mr Kerry Pereira discuss your story ideas with us by emailing a proposal to contact@nss.org.sg. Do
(Member Programme & Outreach Officer) include samples of your photographs (maximum 20 images per submission). We
Ms Sung Mei Yee require good quality, high resolution JPEG images (ideally uncropped) in the largest
(Project Officer for the Every Singaporean size available, labelled with a descriptive file name.
A Naturalist (ESN) Programme)
2 Nature Watch Jul - Dec 2014
Contents
Vol 28 No 1 January – March 2020
Editor
2
Gemma Koh
Assistant Editor
Margie Hall
Designer
S.T. Leng
Contributors
Geoff Lim, Keita Sin, Liz How,
Morten Strange, Tan Gim Cheong, Lim
Kim Chuah, Francis Chia, Con Foley,
Sung May Yee, Anuj Jain, Scott Aloysius,
Yong Ding Li, Jessica Lee, Bjorn Olesen,
Brice Li, Sean Yeat, Yann Muzika &
Norman Lim
MCI (P) 064/04/2019
ISSN: 0218-6853
Printing by Mainland Press Pte Ltd
My Big Bird Year Copyright belongs to the authors. All rights
reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any form or any means
without prior permission in writing from
Nature Society (Singapore). The views
18
and opinions expressed or implied in this
publication are those of the authors and
contributors only and do not necessarily
reflect the official views of Nature Society
(Singapore) or its members.
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Singapore’s International and Subaraj Rajathurai
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Domestic Parrot Markets 16 April 1963 - 22 October 19
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ON THE COVER
European countries.
Young participants of the 35th Singapore Bird Race. Photo: Francis Chia
B i r d L i f e
As part of his rehabilitative regime following
a traffic accident in April 2015, Geoff Lim
returned to walking in Singapore parks
to look at birds. The former participant in
bird races could no longer compete as he
could not walk and ride in cars for prolonged
periods. What emerged in 2016 was a 365-
day marathon of endurance birding known
as a Big Year, with the goal of seeing as many
species as possible. Here are highlights.
Photos by Con Foley,
Geoff Lim, Keita Sin &
Liz How
2 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020
Pittas are magical balls of exquisitely coloured
feathers that have the power to subvert the minds
of grown men and cause them to abandon sense
and sensibility, driving many to dive into the
deepest and dankest forests to search for them.
Mangrove Pitta. Photo: Geoff Lim
Facing page: Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (left), Red-crowned Barbet.
Photos: Con Foley (left), Geoff Lim
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 3
cat, determined to have my mouthful I succumbed to temptation and
17 JAN 2016 of feathers. I suddenly saw an odd stick took leave from work to visit the park.
I
that stuck out perpendicular from a As I was packing to leave my office,
made my way quickly towards branch. Uncle Fai, an engineering professor,
the knoll. Ominous grey clouds When I applied my binoculars to sent me a text every birder dreads:
swirled overhead. A photogra- my eyes, I was rewarded by the sight of “Bird flown”. According to friends
pher laden with gear stumbled the Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus jotaka) and social media, the boobook had
towards me. “It’s drizzing,” he looking at the world with half-opened previously flown off when it got weary
said, stating the obvious. “No bird.” I eyes. The bird, soaked by the drizzle, of the circus below, but would return
nodded, but pressed ahead to my target. shifted its position momentarily for to another bough nearby. I believed it
Several weeks ago, another wind- a stretch. After shaking off the water would do the same on the day of my
borne migrant visited this same corner from its mottled mantle, Bird #60 outing.
of Bidadari and saw the object of my turned back to sit parallel to the branch, After wandering around the
quest. He was Noah Strycker (author disappearing from the naked eye. park with my companions and having
and researcher from the United States), procured seven ticks, we returned to
and for him, it was Bird #5,987 of his the platform to rest from the heat. I
record-setting international Big Year 2 FEB 2016 then heard a di-syllabic hu-hu, hu-hu,
2015, in which he saw 6,042 of the hu-hu… from the tangle of mangrove
world's estimated 10,400 species. When I started birding in 1990, 90% of branches behind me. The resident
Several bare limbs reached out to us could not afford a camera and long Brown Hawk Owl tends to live in
the heavens, as if imploring the clouds lens. Today, when a rarity appears, its the core and fringes of our Central
to strike them with bolts of lightning. I image is instantly uploaded on social Catchment and makes a hoo-woot,
examined the gnarled branches with my media and a hundred envious followers hoo-woot, hoo-woot, with an upward
binoculars. Silas, a teacher, taught me can only drool from their offices while inflexion in the woot.
to look for lumps that ran against the those lucky few in the drizzle savour A quick check on the Xeno-
grain of the wood. No matter how hard every feather. Canto website of bird calls confirmed
I tried, I could see no bird. The occurrence during the final my suspicions that it was the Northern
Nearby, the haunting notes of days of January 2016 of the rarely Boobook. We redoubled our effort to
a White-rumped Shama (Copsychus encountered Northern Boobook (Ninox locate the bird. However, the vegetation
malabaricus) emanated from the dark japonica), a bird that resembles a cast was too dense and the boobook turned
depths of a dense shrub. Better a bird in member from Star Wars, was one silent.
hand, I told myself, and trotted over to such instance. Conventional wisdom As the evening approached, only
the tangle of branches and leaves. indicates that they are very much I remained at the mangroves, hoping
Originally a denizen of the indistinguishable from our resident against hope. As night fell, Tan Gim
rainforest, the shama’s sleek black head Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata), Cheong, our local raptor expert,
and upper parts help the bird melt into except by their DNA and calls. For appeared. Then, the unseen boobook
shadows, while its chestnut underside reasons lost to me, someone had divined called again. G.C. cocked his head and
resembles dead leaves stripped of their that the boobook in the park was an listened intently as he peered briefly
chlorophyll. The bird called briefly, and intrepid northerner that had flown all into the dark branches before casually
I saw the tell-tale sign of its splendid the way from Japan or Taiwan, thereby sauntering away.
long tail bob in the effort. My Bird #59 sparking off a mad race to see it. As the The sun dipped beneath the
was in the bag. bird had perched itself at an impossibly horizon and a distant Sunda Scops Owl
I returned to the tree. acute angle in the mangroves, there (Otus lempiji) began to pooh!. Light
Accomplishments are only achieved was only a small window from which it failed completely and the mangrove
through patience and persistence. could be seen. Friends at ground zero trees became misshapen threatening
Lesser mortals often give up just before informed me through text messages of ogres. As I left the woods, the family
they arrive at the cusp of victory. I sharp verbal exchanges between jostling of Spotted Wood Owls (Strix seloputo)
was determined to achieve greatness. I photographers refusing to move from living further away began to bark
circled the base of a tree like a hungry their spots. and hoot.
4 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020
Above: Northern Boobook. Photo: Keita Sin Below: White-rumped Shama. Photo: Geoff Lim Inset: Oriental Darter. Photo: Keita Sin
When I started birding
in 1990, 90% of us could not
afford a camera and long lens.
Today, when a rarity appears,
its image is instantly uploaded
on social media and a hundred
envious followers
can only drool
from their offices
while those lucky
few in the drizzle
savour every
feather.
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 5
My Big Strategy
As the weeks pass
ed, I encountered var
a term used to descr ious dips,
ibe missing a target
birders, like most bir bird. Big Year
ders, generally take
mornings when birds flight in the
are most hungry, voc
They scour the island al and visible.
’s birding hotspots and
updates on Faceboo post their
k. These are the top
I considered myself predators.
a bottom-feeding bir
and parenting respo der. Work
nsibilities meant tha
three hours on weeke t I had only
nd afternoons to pu
I turned to my Bird rsue my craft.
Race experience to
Year strategy. inform my Big
There were 8 abunda
nt species, 91 commo
uncommon and 147 n, 146
rare birds that could
Singapore. Spectacu be found in
lar rarities make gre
bragging rights. Howe at ticks and
ver, the value of a rar
conditions is the sam ity under race
e as a ubiquitous bir
Javan Myna (Acridoth d such as the
eres javanicus).
As the game was to
increase my species
I just had to ensure counts,
I checked off all the
common tickables to abundant and
put 99 species in my
could be seen on my bag. These
way to work, during
my way home. I only lunch or on
needed a hundred un
Indian Pond Heron. Photo: Liz How birds and one rare spe common
cies to score two hu
This meant that I had ndred birds.
to curb my instincts
one rare tick to focus to run for that
on the dozen I could
easily have.
Kim brothers, had commented that
his last Indian Pond Heron sighting was
in 1994, underscoring the rarity of
this heron.
Pond herons are hunch-backed
egret-like birds that congregate around
rain-filled fields during the year-end
to feed on the hapless frogs, fish and
water-dwelling insect larvae living in
these temporary basins. During the non-
Great Knot at Seletar Dam. Photo: Geoff Lim
breeding season, every pond heron looks
exactly the same — a drab, brownish bird
9 APR 2016 and peel away into the sky.
Herons and egrets, even bitterns,
with white wings and underparts. Often
it is hard to tell if it is a Chinese, Javan or
Bidadari continued to surprise birders are able to perch in trees. I recall seeing Indian Pond Heron. As they acquire their
even though the authorities had begun flocks of Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) breeding plumage, the common Chinese
to reclaim chunks of it to build a new festooning trees adjacent to the prawn Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus)’s head and
Housing and Development Board ponds of Senoko in the mid-1990s. I neck become a deep chocolate brown.
(HDB) town. I paid the patch a visit remarked about my sighting to Andrew The rarer Javanese Pond Heron (Ardeola
during the afternoon, wending my Chow, a digital artist who draws speciosa) sports a rich tea-coloured head
way past the opening in the fence-line beautiful renditions of the birds, soon and neck; in local parlance, it is a “teh-c”
to find myself wandering beneath the after. With a glistening eye, he confided coloured bird. The Indian Pond Heron is
shade of several mature trees shaking off that he had just seen an Indian Pond rarer still. The tea on its head and neck is
water droplets from the recent rain. As Heron (Ardeola grayii) in the trees near a whole lot milkier, and the mantle has a
I looked up, I was surprised to see the the columbarium. maroon sheen.
shape of a heron leap from the tree-top Kim Seng, the older of the Lim A cluster of trees formed a small
6 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020
wood at the base of the field. I scanned The clatter of a camera shutter announced along the coasts of the
the treetops and was rewarded with a suddenly broke the silence as a Yellow Sea, the outcome did not appear
Chinese Pond Heron trying to dry itself; photographer spotted something optimistic for this species, and myriads
the dark rich brown contrasting nicely moving along the grass 10m away. of other shorebirds, that are dependent
against the bright green foliage. I could Everyone strained to see what the on these refuelling stops to survive their
barely make out the shape of a paler bird sharp-eyed shooter had seen, cameras gruelling journey. I might not see the
further away in the glaring afternoon activating as they spotted the drab, bird again if I did not go.
sun that peeked out of the large rain brown bird making its way to feed on My wife and daughter watched
clouds. As the bird turned sideways, the millet. me stew as I contemplated my chances
I could see that it had a pale milk-tea Bird #150 had large yellow feet of getting the bird after completing my
wash to its head and neck, and a deep and a white-streaked back, and pale duties. “Since it’s so rare, why don’t you
maroon back. The rare Indian vagrant, belly. It also had an orange streak just go for it first?” my wife gently said.
Bird #135, was now mine. above its boot-black button eyes as its Thus released, I raced to Yishun
dark beak worked furiously to pick up Dam, where a sliver of exposed mud
seeds on the wet ground. during the low tide attracted a good
12 JUN 2016 number of plovers, red and greenshanks
and the knot. While driving, I was filled
Punggol Barat, an island created by land 14 AUG 2016 with the usual dark thought every birder
reclamation just off Seletar Airport, is regardless of age and nationality has when
a haven for seed-eating escapees from “The Knot has landed.” Software racing for a terrific rarity: will I dip it?
the caged bird trade. Waxbills and Red engineer and fellow birder K.C. To reach the spot where the
Avadavats (Amandava amandava) are Ling’s terse post on Facebook set me mudflats could be surveyed required a
commonly encountered, taking to the stewing. IUCN had just published walk of 5 to 6 minutes from where I
skies with feeble peeps and trills, along that the Great Knot (Calidris ten- would park. A passing raptor could flush
with native munias, pipits and cistico- uirostris) population had declined the feeding shorebirds during this brief
las. Several Pin-tailed Whydahs (Vidua drastically by 77.8% over three period. I made the journey in 4 minutes
macroura) in their resplendent long tail generations, with 98% of the entire and joined several photographers. One
plumes are also frequently seen making global population restricted to the East or two friendlier ones pointed forward.
hovering courtship flights to impress Asian-Australasian Flyway, of which No verbal communication was needed.
drab-looking females. On one occasion, Singapore is a part. I scanned the mud dotted with
a Jackson’s Widowbird (Euplectes jack- plovers, greenshank and redshank,
soni) flew over my head. straining madly to see a different-
The King Quail (Excalfactoria looking bird. And there it was, a pale
chinensis) is a resident bird that is creature with a mottled back stood out
reclusive and difficult to spot. Birders from the brilliantly coloured plovers
and photographers assured me that with their bandit masks and rufous
the island was the best place to see it. breast bands. It was probing into the
However, these birds seem to be hobbits substrate with its almost-dagger like
of the avian world, melting away unseen black beak. It stopped and strode a
and unheard. My previous attempts to few steps forward before searching for
see one failed miserably. invertebrates hidden in the gooey muck.
It had just rained that afternoon, King Quail. Photo: Geoff Lim I spent a total of 11 minutes and
leaving the mimosa and lallang wet 914 shots, on Bird #157. This would
from the heavy deluge. Someone had The reason for such drastic easily be the Bird of the Year.
left a quantity of millet on the ground, declines lies in habitat loss along the I posted photos of the bird on
attracting a number of waxbills and coasts where shorebirds stop to refuel my Facebook page and five minutes
avadavats. The small party of birders and along this gigantic flyway. Research into my drive home, I heard a ping on
photographers told everyone in quiet showed that reclamation works just my phone. I pulled over and checked
tones that the quail was likely to appear at Saemangeum in South Korea the message. It was Danny, a retired
to feed after the rain. The tension was accounted for a decline of 25% of IT professional, enquiring if I had just
palpable as we waited silently in the the entire population of Great Knot. seen the bird. I quickly provided him
failing light. With more reclamation projects being with details.
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 7
Some time later, I learned that
Danny grabbed his gear, jumped into his
car and drove like mad to the dam. He
was amply rewarded, and I was glad to
have been of some help.
28 SEP 2016
In any winning Big Year, the strategy
must include at least one pelagic trip.
Mine was an add-on, after my classmate
Alvin invited me to join him on a boat
to the waters off Singapore. A fellow
companion was David Tan, the young
scientist who collects dead birds all over
Singapore for analysis.
We were led by the late R. Subaraj,
wildlife consultant extraordinaire and
one of my mentors when I started Lesser Crested Tern. Photo: Geoff Lim
birding. Along with other local birding
legends like Lim Kim Keang, the Lim
Kim brothers (Kim Seng and Kim
Chuah) and the intrepid Dr Yong Ding
In any winning Big Year, the strategy must
Li, Subaraj was a walking encyclopaedia include at least one pelagic trip.
of birding knowledge. (Subaraj was also
a national icon, his likeness adorning
banners along Orchard Road, as an
ambassador marketing Singapore as a
their summer breeding programme. 24 OCT 2016
“Caspian Tern!” someone
tourist destination.) whooped. The large tern (Hydroprogne When word came of a Grey-headed
The boat chugged out into the caspia) with a massive beak nonchalantly Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus) appearing at
calm sea. But we were soon pelted by glided away towards Sentosa as we Kranji Marsh on a Sunday morning, I
rain. The wind, sea spray and raindrops pushed on towards the South China Sea. took the unprecedented risk of heading
turned an otherwise mild journey into a The terns were joined by out as soon as I finished my duties to
mini roller coaster ride. Swinhoe’s Storm Petrels (Oceanodroma pursue this rarity. I had previously tried
When the rain became a gentle monorhis) — dark, pigeon-sized birds to avoid taking to the field to chase just
drizzle, everyone turned out in force — that drifted low over the tossing one single rarity. However, by now, I
along the boat’s gunwale to peer into sea. I read about Bird #174 as a boy. had swept up most of the common and
the sky. There were terns everywhere Scientists like Gibson Hill and F.N. not-so-common species. I was left with
– ordinary-looking Bridled Terns Chasen mentioned these sea-hugging the difficult ones. The Grey-headed
(Onychoprion anaethetus), Swift Terns birds in their reports. As I leafed Lapwing is considered an accidental
(Thalasseus bergii) with their orange through the yellowed pages in the old occurrence. The bird breeds in northeast
beaks and roguish crests and Lesser National Library at Bras Basah Road in China and Japan, and winters in north-
Crested Terns (Thalasseus bengalensis) the 1980s, I would imagine the birds eastern India and northern Southeast
with their dagger-like yellow bills. appearing as if they were walking on the Asia. The southernmost limit of this
I was greatly surprised to hear water with outstretched wings; for this bird is China. This bird could have been
someone call out “Aleutian Tern!” I had was how the birds were described. blown off-course as it made its way out
always thought these terns (Onychoprion September is the best time to look from its summer grounds.
aleutica) could only be seen off the for these birds as they traverse the oceans When I arrived at the marshes
coasts of Alaska. However, recent and make their way northwards from at about the same time as NSS Bird
research has shown that these birds fly the southern oceans. Someone counted Group stalwart Alan Owyong, we
through our waters after completing till he saw 99 birds and stopped. were told that we were five minutes
8 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020late. I have known Alan since I was the grounds of the Singapore Zoological “Are you sure this is an Asian Paradise
an undergraduate. He had pursued Gardens, the zoo’s coffers became Flycatcher? It has an inverted U band…
this bird since the 1990s. I could enriched as photographers and bird- why don’t you ask for opinions?” Such a
commiserate with his angst. We ers paid their dues – some paying for message from Francis cannot be ignored.
trundled along the path next to the year-long membership fees for photos After all, my ex-classmate has evolved
drain where the bird was last seen. of the uncommon beauty at the Douc into one of the top birders of Singapore,
Everyone we met told us we missed the Langur’s enclosure. if not the region. I did as Francis had
bird. Then, someone suggested taking It was about a week after the bird suggested and went to bed.
a look at the fields along Harvest Lane was no longer seen that I found time to The next day, I saw a string of
and Turut Track. We followed this piece visit the Zoo. Armed with a corporate comments by expert birders from
of advice, sloshing our way across the pass from my office, I trooped to the around the region. Each had affirmed
rain-sodden field without any real hope. enclosure with three other birding that my dark and drab Paradise
Suddenly, a medium sized bird friends without much hope. Flycatcher was a female Japanese. I
took to the air, screaming and hurling We saw the resident Blue-eared was elated. As a birder on a Big Year,
abuse. It had a grey body and longish Kingfisher (Alcedo meninting), and had a it didn’t matter whether I had seen
wings that had a white trailing edge and good view of a Rufous-tailed Tailorbird the resplendent male or the drab and
black primaries. Alan could not contain (Orthotomus sericeus) that spent an obscure female. All that mattered was
his excitement. Like fumbling guards uncharacteristically long time in the open that I secured my tick and Bird #192.
trying to apprehend an escaped prisoner, for us to take sufficient photographs
we raised our cameras and fired away before we lazily walked to the Douc
desperately, hoping that the settings Langur enclosure. Several Asian Paradise 3 DEC 2016
were correct as the Lapwing flew away. Flycatchers (Terpsiphone paradise) were
Alan laughed. The look on his face lounging around in the vegetation and The day I crossed the 200th mark.
was priceless. He had finally nailed his took to the wing when they saw us. Reports of a confiding Dark-sided
nemesis, my Bird #185. I took a few photos of one bird that Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica), a non-
appeared darker, and after ensuring that descript brown bird, wafted over social
the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher was media during the week. The bird was
14 NOV 2016 absent, left the zoo’s grounds. last found on Friday at Bidadari’s hill-
I posted the photo of the ock, where a large arch of creepers grew
The male Japanese Paradise Flycatcher aberrant flycatcher on Facebook over what seemed to be part of a tree.
(Terpsiphone atrocauda) is an attractive that evening, labelling it as an Asian I dutifully made my way to the former
creature with a blue ring around its eyes Paradise Flycatcher. As I shut down cemetery on Saturday morning.
and its mantle is a rich purplish hue. the computer, I received a text message I spotted several other hunters
When one specimen appeared inside from Francis Yap, who cryptically wrote: near the misty hillock, all converging
Grey-headed Lapwing. Photo: Keita Sin Japanese Paradise Flycatcher, female. Photo: Con Foley
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 9on the bird’s last known spot. Everyone 11 forDEC
estate 2016
Singaporeans. size of a small-built Javan Myna. The
I passed quietly shook their heads. subspecies (P.s. sordida) that inhabits
Above us, sunbirds and other small birds With 200 birds in my pocket, and the our shores during the northern winter
stirred and chirruped as they foraged in year coming to an end, I was desperate has a jet-black head topped with a
the damp morning. An orange-yellow to press as far as I could before New deep chocolate brown crown, and a
spark high up in the trees caught my Year’s Eve ended at 2359 hours. There body set in shimmering green. A bright
attention. The fiery colours turned out was, however, a hitch. red pair of pants completes this Pitta’s
to be a migrating Mugimaki Flycatcher During my perambulations around magnificent outfit.
(Ficedula mugimaki)! The males are jet Bidadari, I accumulated more than 20 It was Saturday evening when I
black above, with a snowy white spot mosquito bites. Besides conferring me managed to stagger out of home. The
behind the eye, a flash of white across with an insatiable desire to scratch, short walk out from my flat, down the
black wings and white panels on the the insects also gave me a sensation of lift and to the car took a lot from me. I
outer tail feathers, and a brilliant orange- weakness and a dull ache that radiated felt dizzy as I started the car engine and
yellow underside. Everyone was happy from the bones. drove at 50km/h for what felt like an
with the sighting. As waves of chills broke over my eternity to the Botanic Gardens. I made
I continued stumbling about head, I received news of the arrival of my way painfully towards the Ginger
until I saw someone hunched over his a Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida) at the Garden. With my energy waning, I
camera. Others nearer him followed Singapore Botanic Gardens. Pittas are knew I could not spend more than 30
suit. There was something low on the magical balls of exquisitely coloured minutes outside. I scanned the environs
ground that caught their attention. The feathers that have the power to subvert for bird photographers — the fastest
bird flitted about and perched on snags the minds of grown men and cause way to find any rarity in Singapore.
to sally after insects for breakfast. Then, them to abandon sense and sensibility, To my relief, I spotted the lanky
ironically, it landed on one of the many driving many to dive into the deepest form of Eric. We first met during
metal rods inserted into the hillock to and dankest forests to search for them. National Service. According to him,
mark out spots for destruction. It was a Several of my friends have succumbed I was responsible for selling his soul
poignant moment as Bird #200 sat there to this disease. One Englishman, Chris to birds and bird photography. While
pondering its next meal, with Bidadari Gooddie, gave up his job in London for serving NS, I discovered a family
on the cusp of destruction and remaking one year because of this condition. of Oriental Dollarbirds (Eurystomus
from a haven for birds into a housing The Hooded Pitta is about the orientalis) behind our camp and would
As a birder on a Big Year, it didn’t matter whether I had seen the
resplendent male or the drab and obscure female. All that mattered was
that I secured my tick.
Dark-sided Flycatcher. Photo: Keita Sin Mugimaki Flycatcher. Photo: Con Foley Hooded Pitta. Photo: Geoff Lim
10 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020spend my free time watching them. Eric
joined me and we would share an old
pair of binoculars I brought from home.
It was years later when we met again
that I made the bizarre discovery about
his Mephistophelian moment.
Beckoning me quietly to come
over, Eric moved his tripod-mounted
behemoth so that I could creep over to
his side. A few other souls squatted or
stood quietly, ringing the clearing full of
dried leaves. Eric peered at me from his
Coke-bottle glasses and said, “Wait for it
to come out. The bird is hungry and it’s
dinner time.”
I looked into the gloomy
undergrowth but could not see
anything. Despite their brilliant colours,
the bright hues of the pitta allow
them to fade into the darkness of the
understory where they usually lurk to
feed and rest. Moments later, a gentle
rustle emerged from the undergrowth
and a small bejewelled bird hopped
on both legs into view. It cocked its
head to check the sky – for regular
patrols by the local Brahminy Kites
(Haliastur indus), Changeable Hawk
Eagles (Nisaetis cirrhatus) and Crested
Goshawks (Accipiter trivirgatus) –
before coming into the open to forage.
The cameras erupted in a full fury of
clattering shutters. I took about 1,280
photographs of Bird #201 and left at
6.15pm, satisfied but feeling far worse
Oriental Darter. Photo: Con Foley
than I had begun.
France to spend her year-end holidays Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra), the Black
with our daughter. One evening, I Hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus)
23 DEC 2016 casually asked if she wanted to visit and the Oriental Darter (Anhinga
The illness left me on my back and I Pulau Ubin. Her equally casual reply of melanogaster).
lost a precious 11 days, which includ- “Why not?” set me in motion as I began We arrived at Ketam and spread
ed a visit to a hospital Emergency to text my usual posse of birding kakis ourselves along the road, straining our
Department. The unusual infection had my battle plan. ears to hear the faintest call of the Pitta.
somehow taken hold of my heart and The plan was simple – catch (Backtrack to the mid 1990s when
caused it to pound madly at the slightest the first ferry to increase our chances I accompanied Subaraj during an Ubin
exertion. Vials of blood taken from my of spotting birds and scurry to the bird survey to a patch of mangroves. As
veins ruled out Chikugungya, Dengue mangroves of Ketam, near the shrine of we paused to catch our breath under the
and Zika. Before we could proceed with the German girl, before visiting Chek hot afternoon sun, the wildlife expert
further tests, I recovered. Jawa, and Pekan Quarry. I only had pointed to a spot where the Mangrove
By this time, Apolline, our four target birds – the Mangrove Pitta Pitta was last seen ten years before.
goddaughter flew over from faraway (Pitta megarhyncha), the Mangrove Blue Barely seconds after that, a faint and
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 11distant tu-whill, tu-whill! rang out from about 300m away from the Chek Jawa for a Siberian Blue Robin (Larvivora
the mangroves. Subaraj went mad with Visitor Centre. cyane), Turut Track for anything
excitement. We did not manage to see After determining that the unticked, and the southern coastline to
the bird, but it had clearly announced its Flycatcher was nowhere to be found, we check out the rumour of a Mangrove
return to Singapore’s shores.) returned to meet Ah Teik, our appointed Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis rufigastra).
As we savoured the sulphurous taxi driver, who drove us to Pekan At Venus Drive, there was not
fragrance emanating from the sticky Quarry. By then, the sun was hotter and even a single photographer present
substrate around us, we were unsure if a bright shimmer reflected off the waters when we reached the “studio” – an
we would spot the bird. Several anxious of the disused granite quarry. I scanned overhang comprising tangled branches
minutes passed in silence. Then we the tall trees beyond the quarry, hoping and creepers shading a floor as clean as a
heard it – the distant two-note call. I to see the solitary Black Hornbill on bowerbird’s display. At Turut Track and
made feeble attempts to mimic the bird the island. Alas, the hornbills that flew Kranji, we scanned for the Black-backed
with whistles that matched its tones, around had the distinctive white under Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus), wagtails
unsure if the ruse would work. Then we parts of the Oriental Pied Hornbill and harriers. I decided to take a pot shot
saw a moderately sized bird hurtle into (Anthracoceros albirostris). at a flock of feeding egrets dotting the
the mid-canopy of a nearby tree. The Tired from the heat, I scanned the greenery in the distance. Then, we left
creature paused and hopped into denser far side of the quarry, hoping to spot the for the southern coast. Our arrival at
foliage, and a loud tu-whill, tu-whill scrawny, black Oriental Darter. Related the appointed spot revealed only silent
rang out from within. to cormorants, the darter hunts for fish trees swaying in the wind. Though I had
I was surprised to see the bird by swimming half-submerged. Only its bagged nothing, I was nevertheless glad
so high up in the tree; I had expected snake-like neck and head are seen above for Ben’s kind gesture.
to see it skulking and low in the the waterline, making it difficult to spot. While waiting for New Year’s Eve
undergrowth like other Pittas. Little But if it perched to dry its wet feathers, dinner to be ready, I combed through
did I know that this was its hallmark. it would be fairly visible. It was Alvin’s the photographs taken that morning,
By calling from mid-canopy, the bird eagle eyes that spotted the thin bird quite sure I would not have anything
ensured that its song would reverberate perched far away on dead branches. I new. I came to the photographs of the
far and wide across the mangroves, strained my eyes to locate it. And there feeding egrets at Kranji. Among the
thereby informing other interlopers to Bird #204 was – its pale, sinuous neck Little Egrets, one stood out.
keep clear of its territory. resembling one of the branches, while It was larger than the Little Egrets,
The Mangrove Pitta superficially its black body melted into the shadows which were also distinguishable by their
resembles the Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta behind it. black beaks, black legs and yellow feet.
moluccensis), another gem that migrates At the end of the day, our Mine was slightly larger, had a yellow
into Singapore during the tropical goddaughter Apolline agreed that our beak with a little dark colouration at
winter. The Blue-winged has a black madcap hunt produced an adrenaline the tips, and black legs. After conferring
mask across its eyes and bears a mixture rush even for a non-birder like her. I with a few seasoned watchers, I
of sandy colours along with a brilliant was mollified. concluded that I had managed to end
panel of blue across the wings, and the year with an Intermediate Egret
an obligatory pair of red pants. This (Egretta intermedia), my Bird #206. I
Mangrove Pitta feeds on mangrove 31 DEC 2016 shut down the computer and joined my
family for a much-needed break from
crabs, and is armed with a massive bill
that would cause grief to any crustacean. The year drew to a wet close. I had the crazed chase.
Flushed with success, we raced managed to spot #205, a Black-capped
towards Chek Jawa, where we heard a Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) when we Geoff Lim started birding when he was
White-rumped Shama singing from the had taken Apolline to the zoo the pre- 10. He read Zoology at the National
dark trees outside the gates, and hoped vious day. University of Singapore, and is a rabid
to see the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Dawn arrived on New Year’s Eve, birder. Family and career as a civil
amongst the mangroves closer to the 2016, accompanied by a drizzle. Ben, servant took its toll for about two decades.
coast. After much effort, we only an old friend who had been banging Possibly due to his influence, his wife now
managed to see another Mangrove away at his PhD dissertation in England, looks out for birds, while their daughter
Pitta, as well as several Grey Plover said he wanted to take me on a spin to has written two picture books about birds
(Pluvialis squatarola) perched with improve my score. In his Landrover, we and is now a life sciences undergraduate.
other shorebirds at Seduku Rocks, drove to familiar locations – Venus Drive
12 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020W I L D L I F E T R A D E
Singapore’s domestic
and international
parrot markets
Does the international parrot trade coming through Singapore feed the growth of
parrot hobbyists? A recent peer-reviewed article* attempted to pull together and
evaluate relevant data. Here Anuj Jain, Scott Aloysius, Yong Ding Li and Jessica
Lee outline some of the findings.
African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus). Photo: Jessica Lee
* Aloysius S.A., Yong D.L., Lee J. and Jain, A. (2019). Flying into extinction: Understanding the role of Singapore’s international parrot trade in
growing domestic demand. Bird Conservation International, 1 – 17. doi:10.1017/S0959270919000182.
Readers can access this paper online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333786246_Flying_into_extinction_Understanding_the_role_of_
Singapore%27s_international_parrot_trade_in_growing_domestic_demand
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 13S
outheast Asia’s bird trade as captive-bred, some imports had been
has been of global conser- declared as wild-caught. Earlier studies
vation concern for many have presumed that the differences in
years as it is known to have overall numbers must lie in problems
massively depleted wild with certification or with the trade
populations of many species. Parrots data, and some birds being retained
(Order Psittaciformes) have become espe- for breeding stock. But the recent
cially vulnerable — they are the most visibility of local parrot hobbyist groups,
heavily traded group of birds globally particularly when flying their birds out
under the Convention on International in public parks, suggests that possibly
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) the explanation lies in the demand for
lists. At the same time, Singapore’s parrots in the local trade.
involvement as a transhipment hub A number of past surveys of bird
in this global pet bird trade has been shops exist, although each carried out
equally well known and documented, with different methods. The general
and again particularly for parrots. findings were that the majority of birds
What has not always been so well sold by volume in Singapore’s pet shops
documented or consistently quantified is were songbirds, but that various species
Indian Ring-necked Parakeets
the extent of local bird trading, although (Psittacula krameri). Photo: Anuj Jain
of parrots made up around 40% of
some studies of birds in pet shops have total bird species recorded in the shops.
been made in the last decade. Even The reduction of bird The most common parrots, in terms of
less is known about the links between trade in Europe now quantity sold, included the Budgerigar
the international trade in and out of (Melopsittacus undulatus), Cockatiel
Singapore and the domestic trade in makes Singapore (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Monk
birds kept for personal hobby purposes. far more important Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), which
The present study attempts to quantify are all not CITES-listed. However, the
in the global trade majority of parrot species on sale were
this relationship by comparing bird
trade data on the CITES database with further strengthening CITES-listed.
the past market surveys of pet shops, Singapore’s position Furthermore, parrots comprised
and then complement this quantitative a substantial proportion (44.4%) of
analysis with semi-structured interviews
as a transhipment hub threatened birds recorded in pet shops
with 30 parrot owners in Singapore. as more and more that have possibly been wild caught and
We first reviewed the Singapore trade is channelled trafficked into the country. They include
import and export data of CITES-listed the Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua
birds for the period 2005 to 2016. We do into the region. sulphurea) and African Grey Parrot
not often expect to hear good news about (Psittacus erithacus).
international wildlife trade, but in fact, Singapore’s position as a transhipment In addition, a study of wildlife
due to actions taken by the European hub as more and more trade is trade advertisements on online
Union (EU) in 2005 to ban all trade channelled into the region. platforms by Animal Concerns
in wild-caught birds, there has been a Over the same period, because of Research and Education Society
huge decline in the total imports into the EU ban and similar bans in other (ACRES) found that a significant
Singapore and exports from Singapore of countries globally, the major countries proportion (273 out of 655; 41.7%)
CITES-listed species of birds from 2005 from which imports originate have involved were CITES-listed birds.
to 2016 (see Figure 1A and B). varied each year and may well continue
However, the vast majority of the to do so. The top three import and Interviews with parrot owners
birds that are now traded are parrots export countries for Singapore from Between January and August 2017, we
and the proportion of parrots in the 2005 – 2016 is shown in Figure 2. conducted 30 semi-structured interviews
total trade has increased year on year. Of additional concern is the with parrot owners. They included two
So, whilst the decline gives hope for difference between the import and local parrot breeders, a founder of a
the future, there is still much to be export figures for Singapore. Over the local parrot hobbyist group and two
concerned about. In fact, the reduction period 2005 – 2016, 54,207 fewer parrot sitters. The interviews explored
of bird trade in Europe now makes birds were exported than imported, the factors that drive the demand for
Singapore far more important in the and although all CITES-listed birds parrots in Singapore by asking the fol-
global trade, further strengthening exported from Singapore were declared lowing questions:
14 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 20201. Why do you think parrots are
Figure 1: (a)
increasingly popular as pets in
Singapore? If you belong to a parrot Imports and exports of CITES-listed birds and CITES-
hobbyist community, please elaborate listed parrots from 2005 to 2016
how you were introduced and the
activities conducted?
2. Which factors motivate you to keep
parrot(s)?
3. What are your main considerations
when purchasing a parrot?
A detailed description of the
interview results and analysis will be
covered in a separate study. Here, we
present results that explore the changing
ownership trends in Singapore and how Figure 1: (b)
it relates to the country’s international Imports minus exports of CITES-listed birds and
trade of parrots. Interviewees were CITES-listed parrots from 2005 to 2016
numbered from 1 to 30 based on the
date of the interview. Selected quotes by
parrot owners who were interviewed are
listed in the box on page 17.
Interviews with parrot owners in
Singapore revealed that pet shops and
hobbyist groups in Singapore function
as key platforms that influence the
public to keep parrots, and sometimes
on impulse. Parrot hobbyist group
events such as the free flying of parrots
in the open are especially effective at
attracting interest from passers-by. A local breeder shared that although the majority
These groups also leverage social media
to draw attention and recruit members.
of parrots sold consist of the smaller, non-CITES
Hobbyist group members agreed that listed parrots such as budgerigars and cockatiels,
the number of hobbyist groups and the demand for larger parrots has also increased.
membership within these groups have
increased over the past five years. (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) — have data in a separate article, we hope
A local breeder who we increased by 50% in Singapore from that the authorities continue to
interviewed shared that although the 2001 to 2016. Furthermore, some tighten checks on import and export
majority of parrots sold consist of the owners purchase additional parrots as certifications to have a firmer grasp on
smaller, non-CITES listed parrots companions for their first parrots. the present trade and to ensure that
such as budgerigars and cockatiels, Local breeders also state that wild-caught birds are not traded locally
the demand for larger parrots has also parrots are the most expensive birds sold or internationally through Singapore.
increased. Interviewees also shared in Singapore, with their price ranging The domestic demand for parrots may
that some parrot owners keep smaller from SGD200 to SGD40,000. This have been previously underestimated
parrots to gain handling experience is consistent with anecdotal records and it needs to be more comprehensively
before progressing to larger parrots. that suggest the Hyacinth Macaw documented. We suggest that to
The breeder confirmed the growing was the most expensive bird, priced manage Singapore’s international and
anecdotal evidence which suggests between SGD35,000 (USD26,170) to domestic pet bird trade, there needs
that macaw sales — including that SGD40,000 (USD30,000) in 2014. to be a more regulated licensing and
of threatened species such as the While we will present a records system to track the movement of
globally vulnerable Hyacinth Macaw comprehensive analysis of the interview all traded birds.
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 15Figure 2 Singapore's top import and export countries/territories for CITES listed parrots from 2005 to 2016 Tanimbar Corella (Cacatua goffiniana) and Sun Conures (Aratinga A Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) can solstitialis) on display at a parrot hobbyist group gathering in fetch up to S$40,000 in Singapore. Photo: Bjorn Olesen Singapore. Photo: Anuj Jain 16 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020
The Nature Society (Singapore)
is currently producing a position
Selected quotes from parrot owners, interviewed
paper, with support from BirdLife
during the study, highlighting their motivations and International, on the state of Singapore’s
perceptions towards parrot keeping in Singapore parrot trade. The paper raises concerns
Note: Quotes have been deliberately left unedited. over the growing trade and parrot
“Birds, can fly and come back, the keeping trends and offers specific
thrill of that got people interested, recommendations for stakeholders
they think it is very cool.” to ensure the sustainability of parrot
populations for future generations.
Use of social media
“Through social media many are
introduced and made aware of a Acknowledgements
parrot’s capability and how cute, The authors thank Margie Hall who
adorable, and intelligent they are.”
helped produce this shortened version of
“There is greater awareness on the original paper for Nature Watch.
parrots because of the Facebook
group created, more parrot Anuj Jain has a passion for birds,
owners can get together, it is like a butterflies and biomimicry. He obtained
community.”
his doctorate in conservation biology from
the National University of Singapore. Anuj
Upgrading to larger parrots
“Some people start off with small currently works for BirdLife International
parrots, to train their ability to care on Asia’s threatened birds impacted by the
for parrots then upgrade to bigger illegal wildlife trade. He has been involved
parrots”. in many conservation and education
projects through NSS for over a decade.
Purchasing companion pets
Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona “I wanted to find a male companion
for my female bird” Scott Aloysius studied Environmental
aestiva). Photo: Jessica Lee
Biology at the National University of
“To have only one bird is quite sad Singapore. His research interests include
Role of pet shops so I got a second one, to accom-
“My friend brought me to a pet
ecology, conservation and wildlife trade. He
pany my first one” is an editorial contributor for Earth.Org
shop and I ended up buying two
cockatiels.” and The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
“When I went to the pet shop I had Yong Ding Li obtained his doctorate in
no intention to buy the parrot but
conservation biology from the Australian
the longer I was there, I knew I would
come out buying something.” National University. He currently works
full time for BirdLife International
Impulse buying coordinating work on migratory birds
“I went to the bird shop to buy in Asia. Ding Li has been involved
bird food, I actually had zero with the NSS’s bird group for 20 years,
intention of getting a bird but
and currently coordinates its annually-
then saw one at a bird shop and it
looked so cute.” organised Singapore Parrot Count.
“People in the parrot community use Jessica Lee spent most of her life
the word “poison”. They play up the growing up with parrot adoptees. Her
positive aspects of the birds and passion for parrots led her to a PhD in
not the negatives, like the cost”
parrot conservation in Australia and her
Getting passers-by interested
work with BirdLife Australia. She now
“When parrot owners meet non- works for Wildlife Reserves Singapore,
parrot owners during events, the coordinating research and wildlife
non-parrot owners will get to see African Grey Parrots (Psittacus conservation efforts in Singapore and
the parrots start getting interested erithacus) are popular for their across Southeast Asia, with a particular
in keeping parrots.” ability to mimic human voices.
focus on parrots, hornbills and songbirds.
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 17I N M E M O R I A M
Subaraj Rajathurai
16 April 1963 – 22 Oct 2019
Text by Morten Strange Photos courtesy of the Subaraj family
14 March 1986, a Singapore I travelled with Subaraj many some PhDs, not just about birds but
birdwatching team were on their times after that first expedition: to about every type of animal you can
way back from Endau-Rompin in Batam Island, Fraser’s Hill, Kuala think of including insects, mammals,
Johor, Malaysia, where we had spent Gula, Kukup and more trips to Panti reptiles, frogs, freshwater fishes as well
a week or so surveying the rainforest forest, Johor, than I can remem- as the environment they live in. He
and preparing a bird checklist for the ber. Throughout the years, I saw was also an accomplished scuba diver
future national park. I took this photo how Subaraj’s knowledge and skills who could competently identify fish,
(below, right) as we were about to improved; he was a poster boy for the crustaceans and nudibranches on the
leave the jungle camp; I was the only lifelong learning concept. Without coral reefs in the region.
one in jeans, the others wore shorts a formal degree, he knew more than Subaraj turned his passion into
for the hike across rivers and streams
back to the main road. The other team
members were Lim Kim Chuah, Lim
Kim Seng, R. Subaraj, See Swee Leng
and Sunny Yeo. Several decades later,
this image “went viral” because one of
us had become famous. In the years
following the Endau-Rompin expedi-
tion, each one of us contributed in
important ways to nature appreciation
and conservation through photog-
raphy, book publishing, authorship,
event management, handcraft making,
teaching and guiding. Subaraj went on
to become one of the most prominent The then Malaysian Nature Society (Singapore Branch) Bird Group team at
contemporary naturalists in Singapore. Endau-Rompin, Johor, in 1986. Photo: Morten Strange
18 Nature Watch Jan – Mar 2020his job, and way ahead of his time tancy and international film projects. VIPs. He treated everyone the same
became Singapore’s first licensed nature At some stage during the early way, with humility, humour and
guide. Through the years, and with his 2000s, Subaraj was short of a driver respect, and he simply just loved to
company Strix Wildlife Consultancy, he to take him out with clients, and I be out there and share his incredible
established himself as one of the most would sometimes step in as chauffeur knowledge and experience. Subaraj
respected wildlife consultants in the and assistant bird guide. Subaraj was was an ardent conservationist, an
country. He managed to provide well incredible at this. He had exceptional active founding member of Nature
for his family, but he did not distinguish people skills and could get along with Society (Singapore)’s Vertebrate Study
between business and pleasure; he mere- everyone: eco-tourists of all races Group and he offered his time freely to
ly did what came naturally to him and and ages (some a bit demanding and surveys and campaigns during virtually
reached thousands through his work difficult in my view, but never in every NSS nature conservation effort
with guiding, teaching, surveys, consul- Subaraj’s!), as well as school kids and since the 1980s.
From left: Subaraj with one of his 1980s Singapore Bird Race teams: Dr Rexon Ngim, Iain Ewing and Sutari bin Supari; with
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National
Development Desmond Lee; at Fraser’s Hill with son Serin.
BIG HEART FOR NATURE
Just back from a hospital check-up the day before, “I was privileged to meet him a few times, and enjoyed our conver-
Subaraj died peacefully in his sleep on 22 October 2019, sations. His passing is a great loss to nature lovers in Singapore.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
while his wife Shamla had stepped out to get lunch. He
was only 56 years old; the big heart simply stopped. The “His advocacy was gentle yet persuasive. Many natural habitats
whole nature community in Singapore was in a state of have survived and thrived because of his work – Sungei Buloh,
utter shock; the funeral the next day was dignified and Pulau Ubin, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.”
Former Minister Mah Bow Tan
amazingly organised, but also one of the saddest occa-
sions I have ever participated in. Subaraj’s passing was “He was a dear friend of NParks, and I am honoured and blessed
such a sudden loss to all of us who knew him. to call him my friend as well. For over 35 years, Subaraj worked
tirelessly towards the conservation of Singapore’s natural heritage.
You cannot mention Subaraj without mentioning his
Rest assured we will continue your good work.”
devoted wife and lifelong friend and business partner Minister Desmond Lee
Shamla, as well as their two amazing sons Saker (19) and
Serin (24). The three of them organised a memorial event “Singapore and nature lovers have lost a great asset and we a very
dear friend.”
at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on 24 November. It was D r W e e Y e o w C h i n & R i ch a r d H a l e
attended by a selected group of family, friends, naturalists
and nature conservationists from Singapore and Malaysia. “His heart was always about protecting Singapore’s nature.”
Ad r i a n L o o N ational P ar k s B oard
While the funeral had been sombre and heartbreaking,
the memorial was uplifting and joyful, a serious, yet jubi- “Each teacher who had the pleasure to watch him work his magic
lant and at times elated celebration of Subaraj’s life and learned from him. His gift to thousands of students and hundreds
accomplishments. Even though the event was graced by of teachers will be passed forward to future generations.”
Al i c e a n d S t e v e E a r ly Sin g apore A meri c an S c hool
Minister Desmond Lee and former Minister Mah Bow Tan
as well as other VIPs, there was a refreshing lack of proto- “He loved Singapore, a patriot who wanted to help create a balance
col during the proceedings with everyone mingling freely between development and preservation.”
on a first-name basis – completely in Subaraj’s spirit. Sh a m l a S u b a r a j
For the occasion, the family had printed a marvellous
“I will uphold his legacy and I will ensure that the knowledge he
68-page illustrated booklet about Subaraj and his life. passed on to me will be passed on to the next generation.”
Here are a few selected quotes from the book: Serin Subaraj
Jan – Mar 2020 Nature Watch 19You can also read
